Tunnel kiln



Jan. 18,1927.

. l.. HANLEY, JR

TUNNEL KILN l0. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb.

ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1927.

w. L.. HANLEY, JR 1614470 TUNNEL KILN Original Filed FeblO. 1925 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

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XVILLIAM LEE HNLEY, JB., GF BRADERD, PENNSYLVANA.

TUNNEL KILN.

Application filed February 1G, 1625, Serial No. 8,099. Renewed June 16, 1926.

My invention consists in the novel tei.- tures hereinafter described, re'lerence being had to the accompanying drawings, Which illustrate one embodiment oi the same, se

F lected by me for purposes of' illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the lfollowing description and claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a tunnel kiln which can be economically coni" struct-ed and operated, and which will accon'imodate parallel goods conveying means so as to enable it to handle the largest` possible output. To this end my improved kiln comprises a duplex firing cl amber located centrally ot' the longitudinal length of the kiln and providedwith tivo entirely separate firing zones, separated by a vertical, longitudinal partition Wall, the kiln being provided With a unitary tunnel section extending longitudinally from each end ot the duplex firing chamber and provided with parallel goods conveying means movable in opposite directions, each of which passes through one of the tiring Zones. ln each ot the tiring zones is located a longitudinally disposed heating chamber, or muiile, or tine, Which is preferably located adjacent to the outer Wall of the Zone, so that these heating chambers, or fines, are located on opposite l sides of the duplex firing chamber, and as tar as possible from the central partition wall. Heated products ot combustion are introduced into each of the heating chambers, as by providing?,- it at one end with a suitable burner, or burners, and I prefer to Withdraw the products of combustion 'from each oi' said heating chambers at the opposite end thereof, and conduct them away from the kiln Where they may be utilized for any desired purpose, as heating air for the burners, or heating a dry room, in which the bricks are given a preliminary drying before introducing them into the kiln, or for any other desired purpose, so as to conserve the useful heat units thereof. It Will also be understood that the burner, or burners, for one of said heating chambers is located at the opposite end oi its firing zone, from the position occupied by the heating burner, or burners, of the heating chamber in the adjacent zone.

In the operation of the kiln, the green bricks are introduced preferably on the cars or other movable conveying means on one track of the unitary tunnel section at one end ot the kiln. and on the other track of lli ffl

the other unitary tunnel section at the other end of the kiln, and the goods are moved longitudinally in opposite directions, passing ythrough the unitary tunnel section, thence to one ot the iiring zones of the dup er: firing chamber. and then through the other unitary tunnel section. It is highly important in the operation of a tunnel kiln that the temperature ot each firing zone at the end where the goods enters the Zone, shal be materially less than the hottest portion of the Zone. For example, l prefer to so operate the heating chambers that the temperature at the entering end of: each firing zone shall be approximately 1400o or 1500O il., While the hottest portion of the zone, which Will be adjacent to the other end thereof, is maintained at approximately 19000 to 2000O F. As the cars move in opposite directions, it is obvious that the hottest end ot one iiring zone will be approximately opposite the less highly heated end oi the other firing Zone of the duplex firing chamber, and one of the objects of the central partition is to keep the tivo zones entirely separated and prevent the passage ot" any material amount oi heat from one Zone tothe other so that this condition may be maintained at all times. For the same reason I also prefer, as betere stated, to locate the longitudinal heating chambers, or muil'les as remotely as possible from the central longitudinal partition. It Will also be understood that att'er the goods have traversed one of the iiring zones, during Which time they will be completely fired, theypass into one of the unitary tunnel sections and are carried therethrough toward the end thereof, gradually cooling and giving up their heat to the goods moving in the opposite direction on the other track, 'or carrier, Which are gradually raised., in temperature so that by the time they reach the cooler end of the firing Zone for that carrier, they Will have been brought up to substantially the minimum temperature of that of the entering portion of said firing Zone. The same action takes place in both of thennitary tunnel sections, that is to say, a cooling oli the fired products, which give oil their heat so as to preheat the incoming products on the other track or carrier.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, vvhich illustrate one form of kiln embodying my present invention,

Fig. l is a top plan view representing dief ila? LJI

utter tiring, into one of the unitary tunnel sections to become cooled and to preheat the 'incoming goods on the other track, as previously set forth.

Fig. ,lrepresents a View s'inilar to Fig. El, in which the parts are given the same reference numerals with the reference letter i added. In this instance I have shown each ot the tiring zones, IiP-Jl, ot the duplex firing chamber provided with .longitudinally disposed heat ng chamber, llue, or inutile, indicated at 5, formed of hollow tile composed ot refractory material, in approximately triangular' shape, as indicated, and arranged in each oi said tiring Zones adjacent to the outer side thereof. I do not lim t myselt to any particular `form ot heating chamber, i'iue or inutile, tor heating the tiring zo. es, as any desired torni ot' such heating chamber may bc employed. its indicated in both Figs. 3 and Ll, the central. partition wall, 2 or 2, is a very substantial wall interposed between the two tiring zones, so as to prevent any transfer ot heat trom one Zone to the other sutiicient to atleet the graduation ot temperature extending in opposite directions in said separate Zones.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a cross sect on onv the line 5-5 et Fig. Q, through one ot' the unitary tunnel sections, which consists ot side walls, 1S, and a single root or crown, IS), extending above both sets ol tracks, or rails, lo, siuriporting the cars, 17, side by side. In order to prevent injury to the car wheels and bodes, a centrally located plattorm, indicated at 20, is conveniently placed between the two tracks, but does not extend upward into the goods space, so that the parallel rows of goods are not separated from each other in any way, and the tired goods on one line ot cars in cooling, will transfer their heat by radiation and convection, to the uniired goods on the other line ot cars, and raise the temperature thereof, as before stated. It is unnecessary to provide any air forcing devices in connection with the unitary tunnel sections, as the same air an be used over and over again. and will circulate transversely of the tunnel section, by reason of the goods on one lne ot cars being hotter than those on the other line ot cars, thus promoting a rapid and ctiectivc circulation within the tunnel seetion.

It will. be noted that in this liorm ot tunnel kin, the products ot combustion are kept out oit' contact with the goods to be conveyed as they are confined entirely to the heating chambers, tlues or inutiles, 5, (or 5t). My improved tunnel kiln is therefore well adapted for tiring those classes of goods which are liable to be injured by the direct contact therewith of heated products ot combustion. It will be further noted that my improved tunnel kiln can be very inexpensively constructed, as the greater portion' ther-cot, to wit, the unitary tunnel sections, comprise simply lateral walls and a single crown, and being ot substantially the cross section necessary to accommodate the two lines of goods passing therethrough, and the conveying means. The central porton of the duplex tiring chamber is ot somewhat more expensive construction, but is ot comparatively.short length, and by the use of my invention, the entire cost ot the kiln can be brought within reasonable tigures, thusI obviating one ot the greatest object, ons to twin tunnel kilns, which has been their practically prohibitive cost. It will also be seen that my in'iproved kiln may be readily and economically operated and inafntaincd in operative condition, and is capable ot being operated continuously, so as to secure the highest possible output which is a inatter of great inuiortance, especially in the lir'ng of brick and other coarse clay products.

It will be understood that the heating burners of the heating chambers, lines or inutiles, can be regulated by means of suitable valves S (or 8a) for example, or b v any other suitable form of regulating means, so as to maintain at all times the graduation of temperature w'thin the adjacent tiring zone, the lowest temperature being at the end ot the Zone where the goods enter from one oit the unitary cooling and prehez. 'ng tunnel sections, and gradually increasing toward the other end (ordinarily that nearest the burners) where the greater heat prevails the gradation in the heat ot each Zone proceeding in opposite d rections in the two tiring Zones.

It is also to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular temperatures herein mentioned, as expressing the range of temperature in the respective tiring zones 'trom the entering end to the d scharging ends thereof. The temperatures mentioned herein areV merely recited as examples, and it will be understood that by means of the heat regulating means, such as valves 8, (or 8a), or equivalent devices, other desired maximum and minimum temperatures may be maintained in the heating Zones.

that I claim and desire to secure bv Letters Patent is u l.. In a tunnel kiln, the combination with a duplex tiring chamber having two separate tiring zones, separated by a longitudinally extending solid wall, a closed heating chamber extending longitudinally through each heating zone, and maintained out ot' com munication therewith, said heating chambers being each provided with a heating burner tor delivering product-s ot combustion at one end and being provided at the opposite end with means for conducting the products of combustion trom said heating chambers, a

unitary tunnel section extending longitudinally trom each en d of the duplex tiring chamber, and parallel goods conveying means movable in opposite directions and each extending through each of said unitary end sections, and through one of the tiring zones of the duplex tiring chamber.

ln a tunnel kiln, the combination with a duplex tiring chamber having two separate tiring zones, separated by a longitudinally extending solid wall, a closed heating chamber extending longitudinally through each heating zone and being located on the other side ot the goods space therein, and adjacent to the exterior wall ot the duplex tiring chamber and maintained out ot communica.- tion with the heating Zone in which it is located, said heating chambers being each provided with a heating burner at one end and at the opposite end with means tor conducting the products of combustion therefrom, vthe heating burner ot one heating chamber being located at the opposite end of the duplex firing chamber from the heating burner of the other heating chamber, whereby the temperature within the heating zones will be graduated from one end to the other thereof in opposite directions in said respective zones, a unitary tunnel section extending longitudinally from each end of the duplex tiring chamber` said kiln being provided with parallel goods conveying 'means movable in opposite directions, and each extending` through each ot said unitary end sections through one ot the tiring Zones oi the duplex firing chamber.

3. In a tunnel kiln, the combination with a duplex firing chamber having two separate tiring Zones arranged side by side, and separated by a central, longitudinally extending` solid wall, a closed heating chamber extending longitudinally through each heating Zone and located adjacent to the adjacent exterior wall of the duplex firing chamber, and main-` tained out of communication with the heating zone through which it passes, said heating chambers being each provided with a heating burner at one end and at the other end with means for conducting the products oi combustion therefrom, the heating burner for the heating chamber ot each zone being located at the opposite end of the duplex tiring chamber from the heating burner for the heating chamber o1c the other zone, a

unitary tunnel section extending longitudinally from each end ot the duplex tiring chamber, and parallel goods conveying means movable in opposite directions and extending through each of said unitary end sections and through one ot the firing Zones et the duplex lirino chamber, between the heating chamber therein and the centrally located wall.

fl. ln a tunnel kiln, the combination with a duplexv tiring zone having two separate tiring zones separated by a centrally located longitudinal, impervious wall, a closed heating chanfiber extending through each of said zones, heating means for each ot said heating chambers, heat regulating means for said heating means for i'naintaining gradually increasing temperatures Jfrom one end ot each zone to the other, said graduation ot temperatures proceeding in opposite directions in said respective zones, a unitary tunnel section extending longitudinally from each end ot said duplex tiring chamber, and parallel goods conveying means movable in opposite directions and extending through each olE said unitary tunnel sections and through one only of the tiring zones ot' the duplex firing chamber. said conveying means transporting the preheated unfired goods into the aligned tiring ,Zone at the end thereof wherein the minimum temperature is maintained, and discharging' the fired goods from the end ot said zone adjacent to the point or points where the maximum temper-- ature is maintained.

In testimony whereof altix my signature.

WILLIAM LEE HANLEY, Jn. 

